Istanbul Book Fair to host Hungary

ISTANBUL

The fair will be held at the TÜYAP Fair and Convention Center.

The 33rd International Istanbul Book Fair will open at the TÜYAP Fair and Convention Center in Büyükçekmece on Nov. 8.

The fair will bring together 850 publishers and nongovernmental organizations from Turkey and around the world, hosting 300 events including interviews, panels, children’s events and recitals. The slogan of this year's fair is “From One Garden to the Other,” in reference to the poem by legendary 20th century Turkish poet Nazım Hikmet.

The theme for the 33rd International Istanbul Book Fair will be “100 Years of Turkish Cinema” in celebration of the centennial of Turkish Cinema. The Writer of Honor is cinema writer Atilla Dorsay, and the fair includes a large number of interviews, panels, music recitals and exhibitions that witness the century-long journey of cinema in Turkey.

A number of panel discussions will be held with leading actors, directors and writers on the life, work and film criticism of Attila Dorsay. Meanwhile, an exhibition organized by TÜYAP and designed by Sadık Karamustafa, titled “Atilla Dorsay: A Life in Color Cinemascope” will include selections from the life and works of this year's Writer of Honor.

Overall, a total of 50 events throughout the fair will be based on the theme of cinema.

This year’s guest of honor is Hungary, and events will focus on promoting Hungarian culture to Turkish visitors in the International Hall between Nov. 8 and 11. Guests to the fair include a number of leading writers from Hungary.

Homage to Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Meanwhile, the Embassy of Colombia will hold a number of Gabriel Garcia Marquez remembrance events, during the first Istanbul Book Fair since the Nobel winner's death earlier this year. On Nov. 15, an event titled “The Life and Work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the Perspective of the Turkish People of Marquez’s Literature” will be held by Jaime Abello, General Director of the Ibero-American New Journalism Foundation, and Turkish author Seçkin Selvi.

Another new aspect of this year's fair will be the “Cuisine” section, which will be open until Nov. 11 in the International Hall. This program will include interactive cooking shows and talks with gourmet writers, including the Hungarian cooking TV show host and writer Zsofia Mautner, who will share her secrets for delectable local specialities.

The 33rd International Istanbul Book Fair is being held concurrently with the 24th Istanbul Art Fair-ARTIST 2014.